Five police officers praised for arresting crazed mental patient
McMinnville Police Chief Charlie Sewell honored five patrol officers Tuesday with Meritorious Police Service Awards for their actions while involved in the Aug. 6 apprehension of an escaped mental patient.
‘You worked in concert with your fellow officers, followed your training and helped your shift perform like a well-oiled machine,’ said Sewell. ‘All the tools readily available were used in the face of what may have seemed like insurmountable odds. Some offers were seriously injured and some officers were scorched by pepper spray but you did not stop until the job was complete and the threat to the community was abated. You did what you were supposed to do. What you were paid to do. Nothing more and nothing less. I appreciate the textbook way you handled your jobs. I personally salute you for your courage in the face of danger.’
The awards come after the video of the incident showed six police officers using good judgment while wisely and appropriately handling an out-of-control suspect without harming him.
At about 11:30 p.m., officer Rusty Woodlee observed a vehicle going the wrong way on Main Street with the turn signal on but no headlights. In what seemed like a routine traffic stop, the officer tried to pull over the driver, Timothy Shelton, 39.
The situation turned dangerous when the violator tried to avoid apprehension by driving on the sidewalk and beginning a high-speed pursuit the wrong way on Main Street and into Westwood. The chase came to an end when Shelton blew out a tire, tried to ram patrol cars, ended up in a ditch, and bailed out of his vehicle.
It took five police officers to subdue the 6-foot, 240-pound violator. Although pepper spray and a collapsible baton were used by Woodlee during the altercation, Sewell contends that neither was used inappropriately.
The video also showed officer Daniel Clayton, obviously injured and in pain, returning to help his fellow officers subdue the still-struggling suspect. He was later diagnosed with two broken bones in his knee and will be off the streets for three months. He was one of three officers hurt that night including Todd Rowland and Bill Davis.
The awards were given to officers Rusty Woodlee, Bill Davis, Todd Rowland, Daniel Clayton and Bryan Emery.
The video is being withheld for evidence in future prosecution of Shelton. However, elected officials were allowed to view the tape.
‘Guys, I saw and I know what you did and I appreciate it,’ said Mayor Royce Davenport, who was shocked by the tape and admitted he would have shot the man. ‘The rest of us can be a little easier about our lives knowing you guys are doing your best to protect us.’
Statistics from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial:
‘ Since the first recorded police death in 1794, there have been more than 14,000 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
‘ A total of 1,533 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the last 10 years, an average of one death every 58 hours or 153 per year.
‘ On average, more than 65,000 law enforcement officers are assaulted each year and some 23,000 are injured.